Atlanta United gets draw for Leagues Cup

Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda looks on from the sidelines during the match against Cruz Azul at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Hess/Atlanta United)

Credit: Kyle Hess/Atlanta United

Credit: Kyle Hess/Atlanta United

Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda looks on from the sidelines during the match against Cruz Azul at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, July 29, 2023. (Photo by Kyle Hess/Atlanta United)

Atlanta United was placed into a group with D.C. United and Santos Laguna for this year’s Leagues Cup, according to information provided by MLS on Wednesday.

This will be the second year for the Leagues Cup, a tournament that features all 47 teams from MLS and LIGA MX. Atlanta United was eliminated in the group stage of last year’s tournament with losses to Miami and Cruz Azul.

The tournament is scheduled to be played July 26-Aug. 25. Tickets and the game schedule will be announced at a later date.

The final three teams will qualify for next year’s Champions Cup.

With the exception of MLS champion Columbus and LIGA MX champ Club America, the remaining 45 teams were divided into 15 groups of three. The top 30 teams, two from each group, will advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Columbus and Club America will join the tournament in the single-elimination knockout stage.

D.C. United finished 12th in the East last season, with 40 points from 34 matches.

Santos finished 13th in the Clausura, with 19 points from 17 matches in the 2022-23 season, and ninth in the 2023-24 Apertura, with 23 points from 17 matches.

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 at Columbus, 2 p.m.

March 9 vs. New England, 7:30 p.m.

March 17 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m., FS1

March 23 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

March 31 vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m., FOX

April 6 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.

April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., FOX

April 20 vs. Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.

May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.

May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.

May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.

June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX

June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.

June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.

June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.

June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.

July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.

July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.

July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.